U.S. patent application number 09/858367 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for fluid chargeable implement.
Invention is credited to Young, Scot R..
Application Number | 20020009325 09/858367 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9895753 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020009325 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young, Scot R. |
January 24, 2002 |
Fluid chargeable implement
Abstract
A fluid chargeable implement comprises a hollow, elongate body,
the body having one or more apertures located in a wall or walls
thereof to enable in-flow and out-flow of fluid to and from an
inside of said body. An applicator material (not shown) is
supported by the body. A handle (not shown) and a mechanism for
controlling the flow rate of the out-flow are attached to the
body.
Inventors: |
Young, Scot R.; (Grand
Valley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Swanson Midgley LLC
2420 Pershing Road Suite 400
Kansas City
MO
64108
US
|
Family ID: |
9895753 |
Appl. No.: |
09/858367 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/265 ;
401/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 1/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/265 ;
401/263 |
International
Class: |
B43K 001/06; A47L
013/30; B43K 005/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 18, 2000 |
GB |
174449.0 |
Claims
1. A fluid chargeable implement comprising a hollow elongate body,
the body having one or more apertures located in a wall or walls
thereof to enable in-flow and out-flow of fluid to and from the
inside of the body, an applicator material supported by the body, a
handle, and means for controlling the flow rate of the said
out-flow.
2. An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means
controls the flow rate of the said out-flow relative to the flow
rate of the said in-flow such that the out-flow flow rate is less
than the in-flow flow rate.
3. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the
control means is in the form of at least two sizes of said
apertures, one being of a first size and the second being of a
second size smaller than the first size.
4. An implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second
sized apertures are located on different sides of the body.
5. An implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said sides are
opposite or substantially opposite each other.
6. An implement as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein at least
one second sized aperture is located in at least one of the ends of
the body.
7. An implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means
comprises an adjustment mechanism by which the size of at least one
of the apertures is adjustable.
8. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the
control means comprises a wick system in use arranged with at least
one of the apertures.
9. An implement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the
control means comprises a tube system in use arranged with at least
one of the apertures.
10. An implement according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the body is cylindrical.
11. An implement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ends of the
cylindrical body are hemispherical.
12. A fluid chargeable implement substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. A window cleaning implement comprising a hollow elongate body,
a window cleaning material supported by the body, and a handle, the
body having one or more apertures located in a wall or walls
thereof to enable quick in-flow and slow out-flow of cleaning fluid
to and from the inside of the body.
14. A window cleaning implement substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference
Description
[0001] This invention relates to an implement that can be charged
to dispense a fluid, such as sealant, paint, germicide, cleaning
fluid, or water.
[0002] The use of an implement to apply a fluid to surfaces such as
glass, walls and panels is widely practised. In its simplest form,
this device may take the form of a sponge or a cloth. More
sophisticated implements typically have a body which supports a
handle and at least one of a resilient rubber scraper, a sponge,
cloth material and/or bristles.
[0003] The fundamental problem associated with, for example,
cleaning tasks, such as window cleaning, is that the applicator
implement frequently requires an ancillary operation to either
recharge the implement once the cleaning fluid held therein has
been dispensed, or apply the cleaning fluid to the window whereby
it can be used to clean the glass.
[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome this problem.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a fluid chargeable implement comprising a hollow elongate
body, the body having one or more apertures located in a wall or
walls thereof to enable in-flow and out-flow of fluid to and from
the inside of the body, an applicator material supported by the
body, a handle, and means for controlling the flow rate of the said
out-flow.
[0006] Preferred and/or optional features of the present invention
are set forth in claims 2 to 11.
[0007] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a window cleaning implement comprising a hollow elongate
body, a window cleaning material supported by the body, and a
handle, the body having one or more apertures located in a wall or
walls thereof to enable quick in-flow and slow out-flow of cleaning
fluid to and from the inside of the body.
[0008] The invention will now be more particularly described, by
way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a fluid
chargeable implement with its handle and applicator material
removed, according to the first aspect of the present
invention,
[0010] FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but from the
other side of the implement; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0012] Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of a fluid
chargeable implement 10 shown therein comprises a hollow elongate
body 12 and an adaptor 14 integrally formed thereon.
[0013] The implement 10 also comprises an applicator material (not
shown) which is supported by the body 12. This may typically be
either a non-abrasive or slightly abrasive porous fabric which is
fashioned to fit around or substantially around the hollow body
12.
[0014] Alternatively, the material may be a resilient polymer,
typically rubber, tongue which can act as a scraper, and in this
case the hollow body 12 is suitably formed with means for
supporting the tongue.
[0015] The material may also be in the form of bristles, and in
this case the hollow body 12 is suitably formed with means for
supporting the bristles.
[0016] The hollow body 12 and adaptor 14 are typically molded from
a rigid plastics material. In this embodiment, the hollow elongate
body 12 is molded in the form of a cylinder having hemispherical
ends. However, the body 12 is not limited to this shape and may be
molded to any suitable shape.
[0017] Apertures 16 are formed in a wall or walls 18 of the hollow
elongate body 12. A first set of three apertures 16a are formed
through the wall 18 in one side of the cylindrical body 12. The
apertures 16a are in spaced apart relationship relative to each
other and generally follow the longitudinal extent of the
cylindrical body 12. A second set of four apertures 16b are also
formed through the wall 18 in another side of the cylindrical body
12. The apertures 16b are in spaced apart relationship relative to
each other and also generally follow the longitudinal extent of the
cylindrical body 12. The sides of the cylindrical body 12, in which
the two sets of apertures 16a and 16b are formed, are typically
opposite or substantially opposite each other.
[0018] The apertures 16a are of a first size, and the apertures 16b
are of a second size, which is smaller than the first size. This
allows the flow rate of fluid through the first sized apertures 16a
to be greater than the flow rate through the second sized apertures
16b.
[0019] The number of apertures 16a and 16b are not limited to the
numbers stated above, and one or more of the apertures 16b may also
be formed in one or both hemispherical ends of the cylindrical body
12.
[0020] The adaptor 14 permits interchangeable handles (not shown)
to be attached to the body 12. This provides for use of handles of
varying lengths dependent upon necessity.
[0021] Obviously, the body 12 may be provided with an integral
handle formed in place of the adaptor 14 where necessary.
[0022] In use, the implement 10, in this case, for example, being a
window cleaning implement, is first charged with cleaning fluid.
This takes the form of immersing at least the elongate body 12 in a
container (not shown) holding cleaning fluid in such a manner that
the large sized apertures 16a face or substantially face the base
of the container during immersion. This allows a relatively high
rate of in-flow of fluid into the elongate body 12.
[0023] Once charged, the elongate body 12 is removed from the
container and should be oriented such that, during a window
cleaning operation, the small apertures 16b face or substantially
face, as far as is practicable, the window sill and/or pane of
glass of the window being cleaned. This allows a relatively low and
continuous rate of out-flow of fluid from the elongate body 12,
with relatively little spillage occurring from the large sized
apertures 16a.
[0024] Since the applicator material, being in the form of a window
cleaning material, is supported by the elongate body 12 in such a
manner that, in use, the fluid from the small sized apertures 16b
flows in or on to the window cleaning material, the material can be
kept in a damp or wet state for an extended period before
re-charging of the elongate body 12 is required.
[0025] In a first modification to the invention (not shown), an
open or closed state of one or more of the apertures 16b may be
controllable by a manually operable adjustment mechanism by which
the apertures 16b can be set fully open or fully closed.
[0026] The adjustment mechanism may also be such that the apertures
16b could be set fully open, fully closed or to a degree
therebetween.
[0027] This first modification would allow an out-flow flow rate to
be easily determined by the user.
[0028] In a second modification to the invention (not shown), the
in-flow apertures 16a may comprise a non-return mechanism by which
discharge of fluid back through the apertures 16a is prevented.
[0029] In a third modification to the invention (not shown), one or
more of the apertures 16a may also be controllable by a manually
operable adjustment mechanism by which the apertures 16b can be set
fully open or fully closed. The mechanism may take the form of a
plug or bung by which a corresponding aperture 16a can be
stoppered. This would allow use of the implement without letting a
significant amount of fluid enter the body 12, and also allow use
of the implement to be easily halted and restarted at a later
time.
[0030] In a fourth modification to the invention (not shown), the
flow rate of fluid discharge from the apertures 16b may be
controlled by a wick system which inhibits fluid flow and which in
use is arranged with one or more of the apertures 16b.
[0031] In a fifth modification to the invention (not shown), the
flow rate of fluid discharge from the apertures 16b may be
controlled by a tube system which restricts fluid flow and which in
use is arranged with the one or more of the apertures 16b.
[0032] It is thus possible to provide a window cleaning implement
that requires a re-charging operation to be performed less
frequently.
[0033] The fluid rechargeable implement described above is given by
way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to
persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, the device is not limited to using an
applicator material of the types mentioned hereinbefore, and any
other suitable type of material may be used by the device and
supported by the body 12.
* * * * *